I love those troll bodyguards and their dreadlocks. And that must be Fazzur sitting next to his interpreter. I like very much how you have designed his clothes and appearance.
Interpreter? The two people that the queen is talking to are her guests, and they are emissaries from Fazzur. Also the troll guards are never gone. They are always there, protecting the queen. Also it’s not like they haven’t heard even more important matters discussed – they simply are ordered not to care about these things, so they don’t bother listening.
Which is one of the reasons why trolls make such great guards, apart from being tough and menacing. They are just less involved in human politics. If you keep feeding them, the chance of loyalty is high. It is an interesting market niche. Rather like the German bodyguards for the early Roman Emperors.
The willingness to be so open to Fazzur’s emissaries is interesting. Assuming it is not just a plot device to tell the story, it implies that the alignment between the Earth Queen and Fazzur is already well developed. Neither want a Vingkotling King.
Yup, it’s a different one. I assume there are probably dozens, if not hundreds “throne rooms” in the sprawling complex that is the Sacred City, so the queen can probably hold court in whichever one she decides to use.
Out of curiosity, Tara – why do you think that Hendira is a false queen?
Is it because she is not controlled by a Reverend Grandmother?
Is it because she is maintaining diplomatic relations to potentially hostile neighbors?
Is it because she fears the return of the Helm and Sword and the overthrow of all that defines Esrolian culture?
Or are you uncomfortable because she makes an alliance with a Tarshite general who opposes the crazy scheme that Tatius imposes on the city of Whitewall?
There is only one true queen. It’s not her. She is false. Who she allies with, who she supports, who she hates, who she fights, all this is of no concern. She’s bound by tradition, while tradition is doomed to die. She does not rule, she maintains. She has not seen. She does not know. She will go down.
I disagree. Hendira and Fazzur share a vision about a common future for Kerofinela and Esrolia, with the Tarshite crown and the Esrolian queendom jointly standing strong against the imminent upheavals.
It is the insanity of Tatius and the current (if not false, then at least not bearable) face of the Red Emperor that crosses these plans.
But then, both Tatius and Argenteus are doomed. To use your phrasing: They have not seen. They do not know. They will go down.
I love those troll bodyguards and their dreadlocks. And that must be Fazzur sitting next to his interpreter. I like very much how you have designed his clothes and appearance.
It seems rather incautious of Hendira to discuss internal political matters with the Lunar emissary still in the room…
I think that was later, as the Troll guards are gone. It is possible that the interpreter is part of the Queen’s retinue, rather than Fazzur’s.
Are you sure they’re gone? That looks like they’re still there, on the left and right edges of panel 3.
Shows just how good the Uz are at hiding from human senses….. (or did I just fail my scan or search roll…..)
Interpreter? The two people that the queen is talking to are her guests, and they are emissaries from Fazzur. Also the troll guards are never gone. They are always there, protecting the queen. Also it’s not like they haven’t heard even more important matters discussed – they simply are ordered not to care about these things, so they don’t bother listening.
Which is one of the reasons why trolls make such great guards, apart from being tough and menacing. They are just less involved in human politics. If you keep feeding them, the chance of loyalty is high. It is an interesting market niche. Rather like the German bodyguards for the early Roman Emperors.
The willingness to be so open to Fazzur’s emissaries is interesting. Assuming it is not just a plot device to tell the story, it implies that the alignment between the Earth Queen and Fazzur is already well developed. Neither want a Vingkotling King.
I like the design of the room. It seems Minoan. Appropriate!
I take it this is a different throne room to that on p. 250 of ‘The Guide’?
Yup, it’s a different one. I assume there are probably dozens, if not hundreds “throne rooms” in the sprawling complex that is the Sacred City, so the queen can probably hold court in whichever one she decides to use.
The room reminded me of Knossos. Those troll bodyguards are probably the scariest looking trolls I have ever seen – great work Kalin.
This false queen doesn’t deserve any attention. Her only use in this world is to die an amusing death. And she’ll probably even fail at that.
Out of curiosity, Tara – why do you think that Hendira is a false queen?
Is it because she is not controlled by a Reverend Grandmother?
Is it because she is maintaining diplomatic relations to potentially hostile neighbors?
Is it because she fears the return of the Helm and Sword and the overthrow of all that defines Esrolian culture?
Or are you uncomfortable because she makes an alliance with a Tarshite general who opposes the crazy scheme that Tatius imposes on the city of Whitewall?
Or because she allies with Lunars who killed her master Belintar in the Third Chapter.
There is only one true queen. It’s not her. She is false. Who she allies with, who she supports, who she hates, who she fights, all this is of no concern. She’s bound by tradition, while tradition is doomed to die. She does not rule, she maintains. She has not seen. She does not know. She will go down.
I disagree. Hendira and Fazzur share a vision about a common future for Kerofinela and Esrolia, with the Tarshite crown and the Esrolian queendom jointly standing strong against the imminent upheavals.
It is the insanity of Tatius and the current (if not false, then at least not bearable) face of the Red Emperor that crosses these plans.
But then, both Tatius and Argenteus are doomed. To use your phrasing: They have not seen. They do not know. They will go down.